Hello, my name is Jamille(Jamie for short) and I am currently enrolled in the Animal Behavior College as a dog trainer. I should be graduating shortly, but overall wasn't happy with the experience. I feel I wasn't taught much past the absolute basics, but I want to be an amazing trainer so I am here to learn more.

I have no dogs at the moment, unfortunately, I just moved away from my parents house and from the family dog which is a 6 year old yellow lab we saved from an abusive family about 4 years ago. She is very timid and still will role onto her back when scared and wet herself.

So if you see me in the forums, its because I am trying to learn and understand everything I can about dogs and dog training, and I hope you will be able to help me be the kind of dog trainer people need today.

Best way to learn is these forums, hands down. Speaking with other trainers is an invaluable resource. So you've come to a great place. Also watching YouTube videos and finding out what trainers you like, reading their books, reading other books...it's a great way to go.

I plan to go to ABC as well, even though I have heard they only teach basics. I personally figure that it's a good way to show that I do have formal education in that area. I also plan to go to the Casi Institute for a canine behavior certification. Finding a mentor is also a good way to learn. I am trying to gear towards becoming CPDT certified. Also keep a look out for seminars in your area.

Nope, best way to learn is hands-on with an experienced trainer. But the forums are a good resource!

Welcome! You're certainly not the first person I've heard from that has been disappointed by ABC.

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I plan to go to ABC as well, even though I have heard they only teach basics. I personally figure that it's a good way to show that I do have formal education in that area.

Eh, I personally wouldn't bother, and I wouldn't choose a trainer based on ABC. In fact I may steer clear of them unless they have extensive other experience. There are many better schools you could go to for a real education and experience with training.

You're reading the wrong books if the forums have been a better resource for you.

Agreed.
Also agreed with the book suggestions. Add “When Pigs Fly” by Jane Killion to the list along with anything by Turgid Rugaas or Brenda Aloff for reading body language.

ABC is not very well respected that I know of, even by people who are ABC mentors LOL!

__________________

"We become better trainers by refusing to swallow uncritically what is tossed to us as truth,
by developing our powers of empathy and observation,
and by searching for better ways to teach and educate the dogs we love."

Well with ABC, before I saw commercials I never even thought of being a trainer, just that I had a knack for working with dogs and that I loved animals. By the time I realized that there are better schools out there I had already signed up and was starting. If I had to do it all over again I would choose a better school in a heartbeat

Go back to the first point, I wasn't planning on being a trainer until I had signed up for this course, so as to what I want to do with this knowledge I'm still not 100% sure. I just know I wanna know everything possible so no matter what I choose to do I will excel at it